What makes it special? These days, craft beers and “micro-beers” are all the rage and experiencing double-digit sales growth while domestic mass-market beer sales are stagnant. This fact has not gone unnoticed by the brewers of “macro-beers” and they are quickly bringing a range of new, all malt, craft-brewed products to market and picking up the distribution of equally popular imported beers. The Michelob brand was a very early attempt by mega-brewer Anheuser-Busch to capture the connoisseur market in the early 1900s and, in response to changing tastes, very recently switched to all malt recipes. Of these beers, the Michelob Amberbock is a standout and a winner in tastings and competitions. Made with roasted malt, it is a fuller-bodied but very approachable bock style that embodies the best of both worlds: New World technological consistency and freshness and an Old World balance of flavor and drinkability. A tasty, easy-drinking choice for brats and barbecues this summer.
In the bottle: Deep dark copper color. Dark toffee and marmalade aromas. A round, supple entry leads to a frothy, dryish medium body of mild milk chocolate, toast, orange, caramel flavors. Finishes dryly with tangy, bittersweet chocolate-covered citrus peels and metallic minerality. Nice velvety texture and length.
Where to buy it: On tap for $3.25 a pint at Pizzeria Ora, 545 N. LaSalle Dr., or $4 for a 12-ounce bottle at Finn McCool’s, 15 W. Division St.; or $9 for a 12-pack at most Jewel and Dominick’s locations.
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